"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1John4:18)
As a little girl, I would pick flowers and ponder the love of my newest romance. He loves me, he loves me not. If the last petal did not end on what I desired, I would start over. Eventually, I would find the flower that found my beloved answer.
In exerts from the book -- He Loves Me by Wayne Jacobsen
The author compares this example of our innocent pursuits of love to that of our Savior. Do we not play this very game with God? Maybe not plucking flowers but what about circumstances of life.
I got a raise-- He loves me
I lost my job-- He loves me not
Something in the Bible inspired me--He loves me
My child is very ill-- He loves me not
I gave money to someone in need -- He loves me
I let my anger get the best of me-- He loves me not
My prayers were answered --He loves me
I told a little white lie-- He loves me not
I have lived (and at times still live) this game...
One of --if I perform, work hard, do well-- He loves me
What is our list of failures or do we just live in a dark whirlpool of self-loathing? -For He loves me not
Satan knows he lost at the Cross. His only battle is to continually fill our head full of lies.. and for many of us.. he does a great job...
Fight back....
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1John3:1)
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28 little hearts from you...:
I love this post! It's a great picture of a trap that I often fall into. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Susan
Thank you.
Muchly.
It is costly to listen to the father of lies. But God's love is UNCONDITIONAL!! We need to be reminded everyday, so that we are not fooled, Satan would love to ruin our testimony, for that is all he CAN DO, if we belong to the Father!! THANK YOU!!
Wow...GREAT post! What an amazing illustration, and how very true in our lives. It's so easy to fall into thinking He's angry or doesn't love us when something "bad" happens, rather than that He's doing those things BECAUSE he loves us. Thanks for this great reminder.
Blessings,
Tracy
Truth is so beautiful, no?
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me...inspite of me.
Never changing. Always remaining. Drawing me closer each day into an understanding of a grace undeserved yet so lavishly expressed on my behalf.
Beautiful perspective, Connie.
peace~elaine
Wonderful post my dear friend, filled with so much truth. I love you.
I was in such turmoil a year ago and fear was in control of my life... I got my word out and studied and studied that scripture on fear..... I so needed the assurance of the love that He pledges to me will cast out fear.... As I went to sleep on that operating table that morning I fell asleep in that perfect love ...... He loves me
Great post! Important to PRAISE Him not only in good times but the bad times too, He will turn it around for good. He loves us!! Amen!!
Deb
Ahhhh.... You got the book.
When did you get it? How far into it are you???
I NEED more reading time!!!
I want to get to his books but I have to finish my others ones first. Plus I just got John Eldredge's new book, "Walking With God" and my husband and I started re-reading "If You Want To Walk On Water You Gotta Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg....
How will I get all these books read I want to read???
Can't wait to read this one.
Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Julie
This is a wonderful post! I love to visit you for it is so peaceful here. Thanks!
Very nice as always!! I wish that I could write like you do..but we all have different talents. I so enjoy coming here..Sandy
I love this.. It's nice to know how much he does love us!
Debbie
See? I honestly DON'T play this game. My faith that He LOVES me is pretty stable. MY problem is always with "is He HAPPY with me?" And I could do the daisy game THAT way a million times a day!!! Once I figured out that HIS love is just like MY love for MY children -- whom I LOVE all the time ... only HIS is even GREATER, I have never had a problem with knowing I am loved. But I also know that my children do things that I find "annoying"... or that "displease" me... or that totally TICK ME OFF! And so... I know that I do things to create those feelings in God. I know He LOVES me... but is He HAPPY with me??? And when I knOw he's NOT... I'm in BIG trouble!!!
Connie, I was thinking about you this evening. I hope you are having a wonderful week. How far are you into the book? I can't wait to get into it.
I am finishing up the last chapter of "The Beautiful Ache".
I hope your week is blessed!
Love,
Julie
This is a wonderful post!I loved it! You can really touch our hearts!! Love and Hugs Grams
Hi Connie! Great post tonight. He loves me! It is so true that we measure where He just loves. It is a sad thing that we measure others as well. when He...He just loves.
Thank you for the timely reminder about God's love - it really is unconditional. What a great God we serve!
Blessings
Connie pplease coem see my Thrusday or Friday post about my new job........ thank you so much for putting Gods work bug in me
OK...where are you Connie? I miss your posts!
peace~elaine
Wonder where you are?
Soooooo just wondering where you are.
Missing seeing you here.
Thank you for this post connie! Your so right, satan uses lies to make us feel defeated! I choose today to listen to Christ! As the song by Mercy Me says "Words of Truth tell a different story"
Oops that would be Casting Crowns not Mercy Me!
Nice post, it so common that satan uses lies to dfeat many, let us watch and pray for the devil is rouring like a lion. Mark 13: 13 says that Watch and pray for ye know not when the time it...let's continue to spread the Word of truth
In Christ we recieve vitory!
Brother Raphy
I'm sorry guys, is not Mark 13: 13but Mark 13: 33
Be blessed!
Looking for you? I pray you are well!!
Connie,
Hope all is ok...you are missed here in Blogland. = )
Hearts from You!